As a child, Liridona of Illyria, the dictator’s daughter, watched the sacred prophesies burn in the city square. Now as she finishes her education preparing to take her place in her father’s ruling cabinet she learns the terrible truth behind the destruction, a prophesy indicating her father’s rule would be destroyed by a man with mystical abilities. Adding to her stress are her mother’s attempts at arranging a marriage on her behalf. When a neighboring nation invades Illyria with huge mechanical tortoises and dirigibles painted like sharks Liridona’s once secure future is thrown into jeopardy. Will her military advice be observed or dismissed because of her youth? Will her mother succeed in brokering peace by marrying her to the enemy? Or will Liridona admit her love for Max, a printer’s son, who alone can see the intentions of everyone around him?

Waaaaaaaay back in November I did the impossible – or at least highly improbable – I wrote a whole book in 30 days. I called it The Dictator’s Daughter. That first paragraph is the “pitch” to let you know what it’s about.

NaNoWriMo(National Novel Writer’s Month) is an amazing organization, not only to they make the challenge of writing a book fun, they provide some very nice “prizes” for the winners. Winners, a.k.a. “WriMos”, being loosely defined as anyone who completes the challenge of writing 50,000 words in November. One of the prizes was a 20 minute consultation for WriMos with The Book Doctors Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry with the purchase of their book The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published. After doing the math ($150 consultation for $15 book I would have bought anyway) I took the prize.

David was so gracious. I read a rough draft of my pitch to him and he kept me on the phone for 30 minutes. At the 20 minute mark he noted that my time was officially up, but that he still had stuff he wanted to talk to me about – and for the next 10 minutes I scribbled furiously while he poured on fantastic advice and information.

His parting advice was to re-write the pitch and send it to him again. Then, once my book was complete (I had only just begun re-writes based on my first readers’ advice) send the pitch and the book.

Of course I was all over the first part, it didn’t take long to re-write the pitch at all and I sent it out a few days later. The return e-mail was encouraging, “thanks so much, did u attach the manuscript?”

*Gasp* He wants it now? It’s not done yet! I wrote back saying I’d sen it as soon as I was done. On Tuesday Arielle e-mailed, asking if I’d sent the book yet. That was enough to move The Dictator’s Daughter to the top of the To Do pile, above Glitter in the Sun edits, paid-by-the-hour web-writing for Read The Spirit and even laundry.

Yesterday morning The Dictator’s Daughter was sent out into the great big world and now rests in the hands of Industry Professionals. My fervent prayer and fondest dream is they will love it SO MUCH Arielle will opt to agent it and David will pour his wealth of publishing knowledge into me.

Because what’s a dream if you’re not going to dream big, right?

So, now, stepping out in faith, I declare the next four weeks my very own personal NaNoWriMo – PerNoWriMo, if you will. Because The Book Doctors (along with my mom my beta readers) will want to know what happens to Liridona next.

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